Bernadette Griggs, Non-Profit Executive of Belizean Garifuna Heritage, Wins Elite and Distinguished American Business Award
Mrs. Griggs Oversaw and Helped Manage an $86 Million Operating Budget for the Non-Profit Organization, The Jewish Family Service of San Diego as it’s Chief Financial Officer
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Copyright 2023 by Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. “Tio Teo” or “T.O. Tayo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.
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San Diego, California – The San Diego Business Journal recently announced that Mrs. Bernadette Griggs, a Non-Profit Executive of Belizean Garifuna Heritage, is The 2023 CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Of The Year in the Non-Profit Organization Category.
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Founded in 1918, The Jewish Family Service of San Diego, as well as it’s Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) non-profit organization, serves vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrants, seniors and families in need.
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Channel 5 Belize reports that Mrs. Griggs migrated to the United States from Hopkins, Belize in 1980. She worked in public schools and community colleges for 33 years. Mrs. Griggs joined The Jewish Family Service of San Diego in 2018. She saw it’s operating budget grow from $24 Million to $86 Million.
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It certainly is instructive to see what a successful non-profit organization is able to accomplish. Under Mrs. Griggs eye, the growth of this non-profit organization in a few short years AND while during a once-in-a-lifetime Pandemic, is something to applaud.
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In Mrs. Griggs position of Chief Financial Officer for The Jewish Family Service of San Diego, she kept track of where a LOT of money went as it was spent. Some of the expenses incurred by The Jewish Family Service of San Diego included services like:
- Over 1.2 Million Meals to Homebound Older Adults and distributed to other San Diegans through JFS drive-through food distribution services.
- Over 18,900 Rides to older adults for needs like doctor’s appointments and grocey shopping through JFS’s “On The Go” Program
- Provided a safe space to over 1,000 homeless people sleeping in their cars for the night. As well as provided case managers and specialists to help them move into more stable housing through the JFS Safe Parking Program.
- Short term (Respite) shelter for 24,000 asylum seekers as well as legal support, financial assistance and travel assistance.
- Direct monthly cash payments for 150 low-income families as part of San Diego’s first Guaranteed Income Project.
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Mrs. Griggs earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in business administration/financial management from National University.
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Mrs. Griggs also got Certification from the California Association of School Business Officials for Chief Business Officers.
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Mrs. Griggs is the chair of the CFO cohort for the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies (NJHSA). The NJHSA is an international membership association that serves more than 150 non-profit human service agencies in the United States, Canada and Israel.
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Mrs. Griggs is also
- an adviser to the board of Optimist Club International, Belize Branch
- a board member of a charter school
- a past treasurer of the Trustee Board at Mount Moriah Christian Church and Macedonia Church of Christ
- a Volunteer at Mount Moriah’s food pantry
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Below is Channel 5 Belize’s News Report on Mrs. Bernadette Griggs.
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BEING GARIFUNA extends a hearty Congratulations to Mrs. Bernadette Griggs on this honor. May her success continue to empower and inspire others.
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